History Comes to Life in Philadelphia

10/28/2026

As part of their study of the Constitution, the eighth grade class embarked on its annual trip to Philadelphia on October 15.

Accompanied by middle school faculty Stephen Hildreth, Tim Campbell, Mike Conte, Mona Hazarika-Tamucci and Rae Johnson ’11, the students watched the production “Freedom Rising” at The National Constitution Center, explored the center's Constitution exhibit, took a walking tour around historic Philadelphia, and toured Independence Hall.

“We hope the students get a sense that the history they are studying happened, that it’s not a bunch of words on a page in a big textbook,” said Hildreth, who along with Campbell, teaches the middle school humanities curriculum. “The National Constitution Center and Independence Hall support their learning of the history in which the Constitution came to life and how the demands by future American citizens that the rule of law and the liberties protected by the Constitution included all Americans.”

For Andrew Whaley, the trip highlighted the collaborative process behind the creation of the Constitution.

“People say that Rome wasn't built in a day, and it was clear that the Constitution wasn't written in one either,” he said. “Hearing about the process that they took reminded me that when they started, they had very different opinions. The museum showed great examples of how they used compromises to create a strong government.”

The experience also helped Anabella Recabarren connect what she saw in Philadelphia with what she learned in the classroom: “After the trip, some things that made more sense to me were the way the government works and what limits it has, and the rights we have as citizens.”

As students delve deeper into the study of the post-Revolution era, they will write research essays on a constitutional issue of their choice.

Beyond the trip’s educational value, the group also had the opportunity to explore the city’s diverse culinary traditions and specialties at the Reading Terminal Market.

“There were so many enticing food stalls that each offered delicious food,” Whaley said. “It also was a great opportunity to bond with my fellow classmates and make memories I'll remember for a long time.”